With the plethora of djinn myths, legends, and stories, creating my own mythology was easy in some ways, and overwhelmingly daunting in others. Many believe a type of djinn called Shaitaan is what early Christians came to know as the devil, while another type called a ghul, is where the word ghoul originated. And because djinn legends have evolved alongside human cultures, their influence can be felt in societies around the world. Most djinn-and there are many kinds-pride themselves as mischievous tricksters or dangerous demons. The jolly blue guy who tells jokes and sings is a rare interpretation. How did you approach world-building in the book, particularly in creating the mythology surrounding the djinn and the use of the ring as a magical artifact?ĭjinn have a long and storied history. Bax is then forced to confront the consequences of those ideas that the djinn ripped from his mind. Essentially, Bax loses his ability to “clear his head and move on,” as his fleeting thoughts fuel the djinn’s actions and hurt those around him.

The demon brings to life the momentary impulses floating in Bax’s mind without regard for repercussions or consequences, no matter how greedy, selfish, or cruel they are.

In my novel, a djinn pulls Bax’s wishes from the depths of his subconscious, using whatever means necessary to make those desires real. We can’t always control our thoughts, but we can control our actions. Society is fortunate that, as humans, we have this ability. We are consciously aware that we cannot take action on every thought or impulse without facing real-world consequences. The themes are the same, but this novel became less of a retelling and more of a dark reimagining of Aladdin’s tale.Ĭan you discuss the themes of temptation, guilt, and redemption in the book and how they play out through the character of Bax?Įveryone has fleeting thoughts and irrational ideas that peek out every now and then before we clear our heads and move on.

I loved it, so decided to tackle a retelling, but as my version unfolded, it evolved further and further from the source material. As I researched original fairy tales and folklore, I stumbled upon the original Aladdin’s Lamp story from One Thousand One Nights. I always wanted to write a fairy tale retelling. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story? From Brick & Darkness follows a young man whose life turns dark when he unleashes a sinister demon in search of his fantasies.

From Brick & Darkness by J.L. Sullivan